The Steelers’ safety room got thin enough that the team went looking for help, and on Friday that search brought in a familiar veteran for a workout. Pittsburgh also had another piece of good news on the practice field, with Broderick Jones continuing his road back as he works to return from a neck injury.
That workout came as part of a broader day of movement around the roster. The Steelers hosted a former Browns safety, a veteran who spent the 2025 season in Cleveland, as the team looked to shore up depth at the position.
Jones, meanwhile, is back in the mix and sounding confident about where he stands. According to Chris Adamski of TribLive, the Steelers offensive tackle said he’s glad to be back and still believes he’s a starting-caliber player after his neck injury.
There was also a noticeable shift in how practice looked on Friday, with Mike McCarthy’s influence already showing up in Pittsburgh. The day was different enough that it drew a recap from the practice field, with the new head coach’s thumbprint becoming visible early.
That theme of McCarthy settling in in Pittsburgh extended beyond the field as well. In a separate piece, Mike DeFabo of The Athletic wrote about McCarthy’s return to his hometown, the role family plays in that move, and the grief he still carries because his brother isn’t here to see it.
Elsewhere around the team, Alex Highsmith addressed his long-term future after practice on Friday. The edge rusher could be heading into his final year with the Steelers after Pittsburgh gave Nick Herbig a four-year, $100 million extension.
The day also included a look at what the “Steeler Six” means for this team, with Brian Batko laying out the six fundamentals Mike McCarthy has identified for the Steelers.
Around the league, Baker Mayfield said he feels “disrespected” by the Bucs, while the Eagles’ run game was the subject of a look at how Saquon Barkley and Tank Bigsby could help take pressure off Jalen Hurts.
In Other News...
Steelers May Have Finally Found A Better Way To Use Their D-Line
During the first week of Steelers training camp, the defensive line has already started to look a little different under Patrick Grahams eye. The new defensive coordinator has been experimenting with assignments that depart from how the previous staff deployed the group, with Keeanu Benton getting work at right defensive end and rookie Yahya Black sliding into nose tackle. Even veteran Cameron Heyward has taken snaps at nose tackle, a reminder that this is less about labels and more about finding the right fit for each body type and skill set.
For a defense that has long leaned on its front to set the tone, those early camp tweaks are worth watching. Pittsburgh has talent up front, but the question has been whether the coaching staff could line those pieces up in a way that gets more out of them, rather than forcing them into familiar roles. Graham is clearly testing that idea now, and the next step is seeing which of these alignments actually sticks once the pads stay on and the reps get more competitive. [Read more 🡒]
Drew Allar Is Already Showing Steelers Fans A Different Offense
The first week of training camp has given Steelers fans an early look at Drew Allar, the 2026 draft pick who already seems willing to push the ball in a way the offense has not always done in recent years. Rather than living on conservative, short-area throws, Allar has brought a more aggressive mindset to his work, and that alone has made him a notable presence as camp gets underway.
Of course, the approach comes with the usual rookie tradeoffs. Allar has also had his share of errant throws and questionable decisions, reminders that the talent is there but the refinement is still coming. He is still at the stage where experience and repetition matter most, but even with the rough edges, the early signs point to a quarterback trying to change the way this offense looks. [Read more 🡒]
Alex Highsmith Just Addressed His Steelers Future Amid Growing Tension
Alex Highsmiths place in Pittsburgh has been a quiet but important subplot around the Steelers defense, especially with the outside linebacker room drawing so much attention. Entering his seventh season, Highsmith said he wants to stay with the team for his entire career, a sentiment that carries extra weight as Pittsburgh has handed major deals to fellow edge rushers T.J. Watt and Nick Herbig at the same position.
Highsmith also pointed to the depth in the Steelers outside linebacker group, which has become one of the more competitive spots on the roster. For now, he is keeping the focus on the season ahead and on doing his part to help Pittsburgh win, even as the bigger question of his long-term future hangs in the background. [Read more 🡒]